POLICE RECRUITS SHORTAGE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 7

POLICE RECRUITS SHORTAGE

Statement By Mr

Barnett

“Our problem regarding sergeants is less acute than our decreasing number of cohstables.” the Controller General of Police (Mr S. T. Barnett) is reported as saying in a December circular of the Police Association. “Expectations of being to reach the full muster of constables have now receded. The total strength is now' 40 less than it was six months ago,’’ and there is not the slightest evidence of the stream of recruitment beginning to flow again. “As it is, we are short of about 150 constables. The prospects at the moment are somewhat cheerless.’’ Lower Level The report in the circular came after an earlier disclosure by Mr Barnett to the annual meeting of the Police Association on October 16 that the level of the staff was lower than it had been instead of higher. . Mr Barnett is reported in the December issue of the New Zealand Police Journal as telling the conference that at one stage there were something like 2310 on the staff. The limit allowed is 2325. However, because of a cut in estimates, it was necessary to cut recruiting. When -the campaign started again it was found that it had petered out. “Today,” he said, “there are only 2285 in the force, and 15 have given notice of resignation. This means that at any time the staff might be 2270, which is 55 under establishment. Why the flow of recruits died down I am not sure, unless we put the plug in and people lost interest.”